TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Fort Hays State rolled to a 64-6 win at Northeastern State on Saturday.
The Tigers produced 619 yards of total offense and nearly posted a shutout, but the RiverHawks scored on the final play of the game as time expired. FHSU moved to 5-5 with the win, while NSU fell to 2-8.
The Tigers struggled to get an offensive rhythm on their first two possessions of the game, but they found their stride after that building a 27-0 lead by halftime. Adrian Soto opened the scoring for the Tigers with a one-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter, then the Tigers scored three times in the second quarter all on touchdown passes by Chance Fuller. He found Manny Ramsey for a 7-yard score, Hunter Budke for a 3-yard score, and Budke again for a 14-yard score.
With his second touchdown pass of the game, Fuller took over the all-time lead in passing touchdowns at FHSU with his 61st, going past predecessor Jacob Mezera's mark of 60 set in 2018. Fuller finished with four touchdown passes in the game and now has 63 for his career.
The RiverHawks could not stop the Tigers in the second half, even with several of the Tiger backups getting plenty of action on the field. FHSU scored touchdowns on all five of its possessions after the break and a bad snap by the RiverHawks in the third quarter turned into a team safety for the Tigers. FHSU produced 37 points, 23 in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth, after halftime. Fuller threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game to Monterio Burchfield from 20 yards out. Clay Robinson had a pair of touchdown runs from 32 and 11 yards out. Voshon Waiters also had an 11-yard touchdown run and Toronto King capped the scoring for the Tigers with a 22-yard touchdown run.
As a team the Tigers ran for 334 yards and threw for 285. Fuller finished with 223 passing yards, while Waiters added 62. Soto led the Tigers in rushing with 77 yards, followed by Robinson with 74, Waiters with 62, Keylan Chapman with 54, and King with 53. Budke led the Tiger receivers with 46 yards and tied Matthew Macy for a team-high four receptions.
The Tiger defense held NSU to just 167 yards of total offense, including just 21 rushing yards. FHSU held NSU to just 35 total yards through three quarters before NSU put up 132 yards in the final quarter. Ty Cooper and John Johnson led the Tigers with eight tackles each, while Hunter Brown and David Arteaga notched interceptions.
The Tigers will host Pittsburg State for Senior Day in Hays next Saturday to close out the 2021 season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium.